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Th« copy flimtd h«r« hat b—n r«produc«d thanki
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DOMIVIOV OF CAVABA
DEPARTMEHT OF AOBICUXiTUBE

EXFEBIMEHTAL FABMS

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY

B«ll«tlB No. 4

THE CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS
IN CANADA

BT

C. GORDON HEWITT, D.Sc.

Dominion Enlomohgisl

BULLETIN No. 9— SECOND SERIES

Bulletins of the Seeond Series of the Bulletins of the ExiK>rimental
Farms treat of such subjeets as are of interest to a limited class of
readers and are mailed only to those to whom the information is
likely to be useful.

rnbllsbed by dlreotioa of tbe Hon. MARTIN BVRRELL, Minister of AKrionltmn,

Ottewa.

1970a— 1

OTTAWA
GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU
1912

DIVISION OF ENTOM()IX)GY

,li

■'it '■

Dominion Entomologist — C. Oohdox Hewitt, D.Sc.
Chief Assistant Entomologist — Arthih Gibson.

Assistant Enlomoloi/int for Fore*l Iiinf< Ig — J. M. SwAwn, M.Sc, B.S.A.
Field Officers— R. C. Treherne, B.S.A.
O. E. Sanders, B.S.A.
J. D. ToTHiLL, B.S.A.
W. A. Ross, B.S.A.
G. Beai uei , B.A., I.L.B.
Inspector of Indian Orchards — T. \Vii.80S.

Secretaries — J. A. Letocrneau, .

Superintendents of Fumigation Stations — A. K. Leith, Winnipeg, Man.

H. £. G001.D, St. John, N.B.
P. H. Dupuis, St. John's, Que.
C. Wrioht, Windsor, Ont.
O. N. Garner, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Laboratory and Aviary Assistant — J. I. Beallne.

.»

To the Honourable

The Minister of Agriculture,
Ottawa.

Sib,— I have the honour to submit for your approval Bulletin No. 9 of the Second
Series and X . 4 of the Division of Entomology, entitled 'The Control of Insect Pests
in Canada,' ^.: spared by Dr. C. Gordon Hewitt. Dominion Entomologist.

This is an address delivered by the author in January. 1»12, before the Literary
and Philoeophical Society of Manchester, Englai.J. It summarizes briefly the Ustory
and pro^ss of the work in connection with the study and control of insect pests in
Canada from 1S63 tc. the present day. It will, therefore, be useful as a publication
for reference and as a report on progress.

I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your obedient servant.

Ottaw\, March 9, 1912.

J. H. GRISDALE,
director. Experimental Farmt.

19702— li

]

THE CONTROL OF INSECT PESTS
IN CANADA

By C. GoRW)s Hewitt, D.Sc, F.E.S.,
Oominion Entomologi$i.

Canada is unsurpassed in the variety of problems which it offers the entomologist,.
Some he is permitted to solve, others baffle him by reason of their magnitude. With
an area of more than three and three-quarter million square miles, of which one
million and a quarter square miles are forest lands, and extending from a latitude of
42 degrees to the Arctic ocean, with her shores washed by three oceans and her moun-
tains rising to an elevation of over nineteen thousand feet, the variations in climate
may readily be understood. The vastness of her plains will be appreciated when it is
remembered that the three western or prairie provinces — Manitoba, Saskatchewan,
and Alberta — are larger than France, (icrmany. and Italy combined, and include the
finest grain-producing land in the world. At the one extreme in southwestern Ontario,
grapes and peaches ripen out of doors, and a shade temperature of over 95 degrees is
a common occurrence in the summer; at the other extremes good wheat can be grown
at Fort Simpson, on the Mackenzie river, 800 miles north of Winnipeg, and in lati-
tude 61-52 degrees, where the thermometer may fall lower than 50 degrees below zero
Fahrenheit in the winter. Thus, briefly, may the physical facts be summarized.

So great an area, including us it does widely different climatic and other condi-
tions, implies n ver>' considerable variety of insect life. Tn addition to variety, it
involves no little difference and jMissibility of difference in the behaviour of the same
species in different parts of the country. But the fact which, to my mind, is of the
greatest interest is that in Canada it is possible to witness a gradual disturbance of
the natural conditions by the bringing under cultivation from a previously wild and
virgin state thousands of acres every year. Insect life is quioldy responsive to a
disturbance of the natural balance which exists prior to the invasion of man into new
territories. Insects previously existing on native wild plants when provided with
large quantities of available food in the fonn of newly-planted crops multiply very
rapidly, and assume an economic importance of a very serious nature. Further,
owing to the rapid development of the country following its colonization, large quan-
tities of vegetation, including fruit, ornamental and other trees, are imported in
annually increasing quantities, with the possibility of the introduction of insect peets
from other countries, which on being introduced may prove to be more serious in
their ravages than in their native countrj'.

Instances of these phenomena will be mentioneil in the following occount in
which I have endeavoure<l to ilescribe briefly the means which are being adopted in
Canada to prevent the introduction of insect i)ests, and to control or eradicate those
pests already existing within the Oominion.

It may be of interest first to refer briefly to the early work which was carried on
against insect pests.

History.

No work of an oflioial nature had been carried on prior to the confederation of
the provinces in 1867. The Canadian Entomological Society had encouraged the

■•;•!;

•tudy of injurious insects since its foundation in 1863, and in 1868 it publiiihed the
first number of The Canadian E.ttomologitt, which served to record the results of
auch studies. In the following year the society received a grant from the Council of
the Agricultural and Arts Association for the formation of a collection and the
publication of a work on ' Insects Useful or Prejudicial to Agriculture and Horticul-
ture.' Accordingly, the ' First Annual Report of the Noxious Insects of the Province
of Ontario ' was prepared in 1870, and published by the Provincial Government of
Ontario in 1871. It included accounts of the insects affecting apple, grape, and plum,
and an edition of three thousand was soon exhausted. In 1871, the Government of
the Province of Ontario passed a statute incorporating tlie Canadian Entomological
Society as the Entomological Society of Ontario, which was instituted "for the
investigation of the character and habits of insects, the improvement of entomological
science and more especially its practical bearing on the agricultural and horticultural
interests of the province.' A grant was made to the society by the Proviiu-ial Govern-
ment, and ' The First Annual Report of the Entomological Society of Ontario ' was
published. The annual publication of this report, which contnins articles chiefly of
an economic and practical nature, has been continued, ami the Provincial Govern-
ment at present makes an annual grant of one thoxisund dollars to the society. No
■teps in a similar direction were taken by the Doniinioti Govcrnniont until 1884,
when an inquiry was held as to the desirability of appointing a government entomo-
logist, and the Select Committee recommended that such an officer be appointed.
Accordingly, in 1885, the Minister of Agriculture appointed a t)ominion entomologist,
■electing for the position Mr. James Fletcher, who had been acting in an honorary
capacity as entomologist to the Department of Agriculture since 1884, and had
issued his first report on injurious insects. From this it will be seen that the Cana-
dian Government recognized at a comparatively early date the necessitj- of taking
steps towards the control of injurious insects.

When the Dominion Experimental Farms were established in 1886. this officer
was attached to that branch of the Department of Agri'ulture in the joint capacity
of entomologist and botanist. This position was occupiiij by Dr. Flotclicr until his
death in 1908.

Owing to the increase in entomological work, and the necessity for its further
extension, the old joint Division of Entomology and Botany was divided, and separate
Divisions of Entomology and Botany were established in 190!». in that year the
writer was appointed as Dominion Entomologist, and entruste<l with the work of
organizing the new Division of Entomology.

The Invaiion of Insect Peits.

Brief reference hiis been made to the effect which the opening up and settlement
of a new country has upon the insect life of that country. Not only is the native
insect life affected, but the gates of a promised land are thrown open to the alien
hordes without, and the history of economic entomology in Canada contains a lengthy
record of successive invasions of injurious insects, or of the first discovery of their
previously unnoticed entry. Most of our seriously injurious insects are species which
have invaded Canada from without. The Hessian Fly (Jfc etiola destructor Say)
reached Canada about 1816. A few years later it was folli t^ed by another serious
pest of Canada's staple crop, namely, the Wheat Midge (Diplosis tritici Kirby), which
crossed the frontier in 1828, and from time to time has been responsible for enormous
losses. In 1866, the Chinch Bug (Blitsu't leucopterus Say), whfich in sixty years has
exacted a toll of not less than three hundred and fifty million dollars in the United
States, was first found in Ontario. Four years later the Colorado Potato Beetle
(Leptinotana decemlineata Say), in devastating millions, swept across the frontier,
and is now the most commonly reported pest in eastern Canada, and in its spread
westward has reached Alberta.

All tliese inswtH confiiHMl their ruvapcs to field and <rcrcal crf.ps. In 1S82, how-
ev( r. it was discoven-d that the L>irch SawHy (Lmaroupmalim irirligonii Hartig),
which had been first observed u few years previously in the New Engrland States, had
reached Canada. Its depredations wore so serious that in a few years the mature
larches or tamaracks, over practically the whole of eastern Canada, were almost com-
pletely destroyed. About 1887, the Dominion Entomologist received specimens of the
Pear-leaf Blister Mite (Eriophyes pyri Nalepa) from Nova Scotia, and although this
is not an insect in the strict sense, nevertheless for practical purposes it is regarded
as such. It was undoubtedly introduce<l on nursery stock frjni Europe, and has now
spread throughout the whole breadth of Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and is increasing in abundance, the extent of its injuries becoming more noticeable
annually. The milling indu.stry was the next to be seriously alarmed by the sudden
appearance in Ontario, in 1880, of the drcade*! .\re<literrancan Flour Moth (Ephestia
kuhniella Zeller). This European pest rcneived the immodiati> attention of the Pro-
vincial and Federal Departments of Agriculture. The Clover Root-borer (Hylesinut
trifolii Miiller), which is very destructive to clover, and is a European insect; was
Srst recorded in Ontario in ISOl.

Passing over the next three years, during which period several new insect pests
were observed for the first time, we fin<l that the next serious pest which reached
Canada was the Horn Fly (Ifaemafohia serrala Rob. Desv.). This insect was intro-
duced into the Unitc<l States from Europe, and was first observed in Canada in 189^,
when its appearance in Ontario cau-sed considerable alarm among farmers. Cattle
which are attacked by this insect rapidly lose flesii, and the milk yield is also seriously
affected. Two new pests appeared in 1S9«. In British Columbia the caterpillar of a
small moth (Argyreslhia conjugella Z.) was found inflicting serious injuries to apples,
oa which account it is named the Apple Fruit-miner. A new apple pest also appeared
in Ontario owing to the fact that one of the fruit-flies, whose larva is now known as
the Apple Maggot or Railroad Worm {RhagolMs pomonella Walsh), ceased to confine
its attention to wild fruit and haws and attacked cultivated apples, of which it is a
most serious pest at the present time in certain parts of eastern Canada.

The insect which has been responsible for the greatest injury to fruit trees in
certain of the regions where it became established was the San .lose Scale or Perni-
cious Scale (Aspidiotus pemiciosus Comst.). Originally introduced into CaBifornia
from Asia, it spread to Canada, where it was discovered in the Okanagan Valley in
British Columbia in 1894, and two years later in Ontario, where it became firmly
established and destroyed acres of orchards. In 1898, the San Jose Scale Act waa
passed, which prohibite<l the importation of trees, plants, and other nursery stodc
from countries in which the scale was present. Later, in 1901, this enactment was
modified, and the aforementioned vegetation was allowed to enter Canada at certain
periods of the year, and through certain ports, at which were erected fumigating
houses for the fumigaation of the plants with hydrocyanic acid gas. In 1899, other
enemies of field and garden crops invaded our territories from the United States.
The Pea Aphis (Macroaiphum pisi Kalt.) appeared in enormous numl)er8 in
Ontario and the maritime provinces, causing considerable damage. The two Aspara-
gus beetles (Crioceri» a»paragi L.. and C. lH-punctala K) crossetl over from the State
of New York into the Niagara peninsula. The invasion or first appearance of other
injurious insects might be mentioned, but this summary of the history of in-ect
invasions of Canada has already reached a considerable length, and the last insect
to migrate into our territories from the United States will alone be considered. This
inaect is the Brown-tail Moth (Euproclit chrysorrhaa L.), which appears to have been
introduced into the State of Massachusetts on nursery stock from Europe about 1890,
and together with the Gypsy Moth (Forthetria diapar L.), which was also introduced
from Europe into Massachusetts, has spread over a large area in the Now England
States, and has entailed enormous losses and the expenditure of millions of dotlan in
control and eradicativc work. At the present lime, in the State of Massachusetts

alone, over a million dollars are beinir stpeiit nnnually in entleovourinK to control and
prevent the spread of these two species of introduced insects. The Brown-tail Moth
gradually spread in a northeasterly direction, and in 1902 specimens of the moth
were taken in Xew Brunswick, but it wiis not until 18*07 that evidences of the actual
eatablishment of the insect wen- found in Canatla. In that year thousands of the
winter webs in which the young caterpillars pass the winter wore found in Nova
Scotia, and the further discovery of the insect in 1010 in New Bninswick indicated
that it had iirmly established itself in Canada.

Federal Legislation in Canada ag:ain8t Insect Pests.

A brief reference has already been made to the San .Tost' Scale Act. which was
passed by the Federal Government in 1898. prohibitin(r the importation of trees and
other nursery stock from countries in which the San .lose Scale occurred. In 1901,
fumigation stations were established at six of the customs ports, through which
nursery stock was allowed to enter during certain periods of the .year after fumiga-
tion with hydrocyanic acid gas. Beyond this power to fumigate imports, the Federal
Government had no authority to take further action, should it be necessary, to
prevent the introduction of other insect pests into Canada or the spreading of insect
pests already existing in Canada. In 1909. winter webs of the Brown-tail Moth were
found on shipments of nursery stock imported from France into Ontaria Quebec,
and British Columbia; the same insect was also firmly established in Nova Scotia.
It was nei'cssary, therefore, that we should have the requisite powers to prevent the
introduction of this pest into these parts of Canada not already infested and its
spreading in regions whore it had become establislie<l. Accordingly, The Destructive
Insect and Pest .\ct was passed in 1910, under wliich regulations were made provid-
ing for the prohibition of entry, fumigation on entry, or inspection subsequent to
entry, of nurserr stock, or defining other conditions under which nursery stock and
other vegetation might be introduced into Canada. The regulations, which include
all the provisions of the San Jose Scale Act, also provided for the treatment of vege-
tation or premises to j)revcnt the spreading of insect i>e^t», the destruction of any
crop, tree, and other vegetation infested, or susiiected to be infested, the granting of
compensation, and sucli other steps as might be considered necessary to carry out
the objects of the Act.

All vegetation and nursc:-y stock, except certain classes of florists' stock, such as
greenliouse grown plantsi, herbaceous perennials, bedding plants, &c., is allowed to
enter Canada througli certain i)ort8 only, at six if which, namely. St. .lohn, N.B.;
St. John's, P.(i. ; Niafiara Falls. Ont.; Windsor, Out.; Winnioeg, Man.; and Van-
couver, B.C.. fiiniigalioM stations are cstablishetl, where s4ock ri v,-iiring fumigation
is fumigated before Ix-ing releasiHl by the Customs, and a ecrtiticato of fumigation is
given. For stock retiuiring inspection, a different procedure is necessary. All vegeta-
tion and jiursery .stnek. exee|)t the classes already nientioneil, coming from Europe,
.lapan, or the States of Vermont. Maine, Mas.saehusetts, New Ilainpshire, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island, is inspe<-tt'd, and the general n-.ethod of procedure is as follows: —

Any |)erson importing nursery stock is required to send to the Dominion Ento-
niologist, within five days of ordeiiuK: this stock, a notice of his order, which must
give the niinie of llie eonsigiuv, plnee of origin, the quantity and nature of the stock.
When the shipn.ent arrives at the port of entry, a notice of its arrival is sent by the
Customs officers to the Dominion Entomologist and the importer anil Custom House
brokers are also required by the regulations to send a notice of its arrival. Two
methods may then Ix' followed: Nursery stock entering through certain jwrts, such
as Vancouver or \\'inni|H>g. is inspected at the port of entry, and after it bears a
certificate of iiis|H'ctioii it is allowed to proceed to its destination. Nursery stock
entering Ontario or Xova Scotia through certain ports, however, is alloweil to proceed
lo it.s destination, and oiii( ~ of its arrival being rpceive<l from the Customs officers

I

I

and the importer, respectively, an inspector h immediately instructed to viait the con-
fiigfiiee for the pMriK)sc of inspecting the stock. Under the resrul«tion«, the conaigneo
may not unpack the stock, except in the preaeiiice of an inspector, who, after inspeet-
itifc the some, issues a certificate of in«pection.

The species of insects which nre scheduled at presfnt under the Destructive
Insect and Pest Act are: the San .I'ose Scide (Agp!diolu$ lernkiosus); the Brown-tail
Moth (Euproctis chrysorrlura) ; the Woolly Aphis (Srhi.:o>ieura lanigera) ; the West
Indian Peach Scale (Aulaeaspig penlagoiia) ; the Oips;' Moth (Porthetria ditpar).
Other insects may he scheduled should it be deemed necessary at any time. Over two
and one-half million plants were examined in eastern Canadn during the importation
season 1009-1910, and ovf three hundred of thf winter webs of tho Brown-tail Moth
were discovered on nursery 8to<;k from Fraiife. These winter webs or nests of the
Brown-tail Moth may contain several huu.i wb of the young hibernating cater-
pillars of this insect. During the last importntion season over four million trees and
plants were in8pefte<l. Receully, pupie of the (iipsy ifoth. fortunately dead, were
found on Azaleas imported from Belginn. These facts indicate the importance of
inspection of imiwrted trees and plants collectively classetl as nursery stcck. In the
work of inspection the Provincial Departments of Agriculture concerned co-operate
with the Federal Department. In Ontario assistance is rendeml in the inspection of
shipments of nurs^.-y stock. British Columbia, as will be mentioned later, has regula-
tions governing tho inspection of inn. rted nurserj- stock and also fruit, and as the
Federal and Provincial inspection in fumigatioa work is carriwi on at Vancouver
the two departments t-o-operate to av<...l unnecessary duplication of the work

Provincial Legislation against Insect P^ts.

In addition to the legislation of tho Dominion (lovcrnment against insect pests,
several of the Provincial (iovemnuMila have enacted legislative uioi.sures relating to
tho prevention, control, and eradication of insect |)ests in their rcst»ective provinces.

In 1863. the Province of British Columbia passetl a Ilortioiltural Board Act,
creatinir a Boar<l with power to pass regulations for the purj)"s«' of preventing the
intrfnluetiV or spread of injurious inse«-ts. This Act was consolidated with other
acts i.ii;'.^. the Agricultural Aftsociations Act of 1911, under which Act regulations
hi.,fe beeeii passed by the Provincial Horticultural Board, and these regidations give
the Iward the grcatcBt latitude in eradicating and preventing the introduction
of injurious insects. A careful inspection is made of all nuraery stock ai.d
fruit entering thv- nrovinoe, and until such inspection has taken place tht
importations are iiii <|uarantine. Shipments niR.v also bo fimiigotod when it is
eonsidere<l necessarv. The regulations are ndminister-d by tho Provincial Inspector
.f Fruit Pests, who is o-ssisted by h stnflF of ins|)o<-tors, Thoso iiisiipctor.s conduct the
inspe<tion and fumigation at Vancouver and eradicative niensuros i.i the nu'series
and orchards throughout tho province. Tho largo ninount of nursery stock and fruit
which is condenine<l annually, and either soni bnck or destroyefl. .^^tities to the
assiduity and zeal with whicii tho w.iik of preventing the introduction of insect pests
into the province is carried on. and the free<loi>i of the provinw from certain insect
pests is iin<Ioubte<lly duo to tho vigorous ins|K>ction which is carried i iinder the
Inspector of Fruit Pest'^ at Vancouver.

The Province of Ontario 1ms ii Fruit Peats Act. whicii is adminis 1 by the
Fruit Branch of the Departmoiit ot Agric;il(nre. The insects which are scheduled
under this Act arc: San Joso Scali . Codling Moth, m <1 Pear Psylhi. The work is
carried on chiefly in conjunctinn with tho municipalities, which appoint inspectors
in addition to those oppointe<l by the Provincial Dopartmont of Agriculture. These
inspectors have power to order the treatment or destruction of infe3te<l trees and
plants. Owners of nurseries ure compelled to fumigote stock before it leaves the
nurseries, and the Department's inspectors visit the nurseries for the purpose of
destroying infested trees, and seeing that the fumigation rofitulations are carried out.

10

The Province of Nova Scotia has recently (1911) p««8e<l an Injurious Insect
Pest . nd Plant Disease Act, which enables the provincial authorities to appoint
inspectors and to take stepd to eradicate insect pests and to ] revent their spread. It
is intended to introduce a measure shortly providing for the compulsory spraying of
orchards in those districts where a certain number of fruit growers may desire it.
This measure will be most valuable, if carried out and enforced, in compelling in-
different persons to adopt necessary measures of control.

The Brown-ta'l Moth.

The invasion of the Brown-tail Moth has already been mentioned, and an active
campaign is now being carried on with a view to controlling the Brown-tail Moth
in those counties of Nova Scotia and Ne^r IJrunswick in which it has establi.ihed
itself. This work at present chiefly consists in scouting the countryside for the
winter webs of the caterpillars, anc' the destruction of these where found. Some of
these webs contain enormous numbers of caterpillars; for example, a single wt > or
nest collected in Nova Scjtia was found to contain over 1,800 caterpillars, which
indicates the importance of destroying even single webs. The insects occur mostly
upon the fruit trees, but also on the wild varieties of apple, rose, and thorn, and on
hardwoods such as oak, elm, maple, &c. In places where winter webs are found in
considerable abundance, the trees are thoroughly sprayed after the appearance of the
foliage. When the pest first arrived in Cant i. it was believed by many that the
winters would be too severe for the young hibernating caterpillars. Experience has
shown that this is not so, and experiments have proved that winter webs containing
living larvie are able to withstand being frozen in a solid block of ice for nearly two
mouths, after which about thirty per cent, of the larvae are stiil alive. The parasitic
enemies of the insect are being studied, and the Division of Entomology will attempt
to use these means in endeavouring to obtain a natural control of the pest. In the
work of scouting for and destroying the winter webs, the Federal •Government is
assisted by the Provincial Departments of Agriculture.

m

Other Work of the DiTiiion of Entomology.

In addition to the work of inspecting and fumigating trees and plants imported
into Canada carried on under the Destructive Insect and Pest Act, and the Brown-
tail Moth control work, which activities have already been described briefly, the Divi-
sion of Entomology also carries on many other lines of work. The problems of insect
control are intimately related to agriculture, horticulture which includes fruit-
growing, forestry, public health and other activities of t an; in proportion as these
activities increase in importance the knowledge oi the means of insect control like-
wise increases. On farm crops in Canada insects levy an annual toll at the present
time of at Itast tifty million dollars, and a very conservative estimate would indicate
that the fruit-growers of Canada exijcrienee an annual loss of over four million
dollars owing to insect pests. These figures may appear rather large to the uninitiated,
but it should be remembered vhat a loss of thirty per cent in fruit-growing, and a loss
of ten to twenty-five per cent in the raising of farm crops, is generally assigned to
injurious insects. Further, it is safe to say that even with our present knowledge of
the methods of insect control, a saving of at least thirty per cent could be effected,
•nd with increased knowledge this percentage will undoubtedly increase. One of the
chief objects of the work of the Division of Entomology is to assist farmers and fruit-
growers in the prevention of these losses. All should realixe that it is a poor policy
to advocate u.ethods for the purpose of increasing the productivity of the soil and of
the crops if, at the same time, steps are not taken to lessen the means responsible for
reducing, in so large a measure, the crops so produced.

11

Inquiries and reports oonccniing iiise<t iiijitri<-« orp rtK-eived from all parts of
Ciinada. All correspondence to and from the Division is carried ' Free,' no poatage
being required, thereby enabling all who dcs.re to have information to obtain it fne
of cost.

By co-operation with other brimfhes of the Department of Agriculture the Diri-
sion is able to increase its usi-fiihiess. The Census and Statistics Branch has a body
of correspondents of over three thousand, who report to that Branch each month on
the conditions of the crops in the different i)rovin(es. A question is also asked with
reference to insect pests, and the important replies are referred to the Division. In
this way it is possible to communicate imme<liatoIy with such .correspondents as may
need assistance, or if the pest is of a serious nafun-, to isFue a statement to the local
press of that district. Such an ..rrangement is also valuaole as a means of receiving
infomatiuu of the incipient ftage of an outbreak of an injurious insect. The Fruit
Branch has similar corres|)ondonts reporting the conditions in regard to the fruit
crops, and they also are asked to reixirt coriceniiivr insoit injuries. By these means
the Division is in communi-atiou with practirnlly <;very ?eftinn of the Dominion, and
13 kept well informed as to i he occurreme of injurious insecta effecting farm and fruit
crops.

With 80 vast an area it is necessary to study the insects and the methods of
control in the regions where they occur: the life history of an in.sect in Quebec will
probably differ from its life history in British Columhin. and the methods of control
must be adopted according to such differeiif.-s. Field stations or laboratories are
being established in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Oi. ario and British
Columbia for the study of fruit inse<;ts ami, in the case of the first two provJicea, of
the parasites of the Brown-tail Moth. It is hoped to establish one in the western
provinces for the study of ;iisects injurious to cereals.

One of Canada's most valuable reserves are tlie forests. The forest area i»
estimated at about one and a quarter million square miles, of which about four
hundred thousand square miles are said to he covered with merchantable timber. In
1910 over three ain. a half million dollar-' worth of pulpwtxwl were produced. Aa
injurious insects foim one of the chief for st-destroying agencies, the important rela-
tionship which forest entomology bears to the question of the conservation of the
forests needs no emphasis. This study of forest insects has not rtcceived in the past
the attention lifs iniportnnco warrants, but Mr. J. M. Swaine, who is a recognized
authority on the bark bottles, the most destructive of forest insects, has been appointed
as an assistant entomologist, with the intention of developing this branch of entomo-
logical work. The officers ami forest rangers of the Forestry Branch of the Depart-
ment of the Interior are co-operating in this ,vork by making field ob8er^'ation8 and
reports on forest insects.

A large number of inquiries are received concerning apiculture, and an apiary
is kept for experimental purposes. Increasing attention is being devoted to bee-
keeping throughout Csnada. and with the development of the fruit-growing industry,
there should most certainly be a concomitant development in apiculture. The most
serious impediment to its Jo'velcpment is the spread of the diseases knowr. as Euro-
pean and American Foi 1 Brood. Both these diseases have beer introduced into
Canada, and the Provir -cs of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia have enacted
statutes with a view to r»reventing their spread.

Insects and ticks iffccting live stock are a serious problem in many parts of
Canada. The well-knr^n Warble Fly (Ifypoderma lineata Villers) is so p-cvalent in
certain regions, that as much as two dollars per head is frequently deducted from the
price paid for young stock on account of the injuries of these insects. Through the
o-operation of the Veterinary Director General of the Department of Agriculture,
reports and specimens are received from the veterinary inspectors throughout the
Dominion, and a knowledge is being gained of the prevalence and distribution of
these insect enemies of live stock.

^

It

In British Columbia, • few yean ago, many complaints were made by fruit-
BTowers concerning the condition of the orchards on the Indian Reservation^ which
in many sections adjoin or are situated in fruit-growing sections. The Indians, partly
through ignorance and largely through indifference, paid little attention to the
orhards in their reservations, with the result that insect pes s of all kinds, being
unmolested, flourished in abundance. The result was that the i -dian orchards served
as breeding-grounds and sources of supply for insect pests. Through strong repre-
sentations being made to the Department of Indian Affairs, an annual appropriation
is made by that Department ' for the cleansing of Indian orchards,' and this work ii
adminiatered by the Dominion Entomologist. An officer is employed who devotes his
whole time to this work. The Indian Reservations are visited, and the Indians are
supplied with spraying machines and instructed in the methods of spraying, pruning,
and generally cultivating their orchards. The work has already had very beneficial
results, and many of the Indians are possessors of good orchards and produce excellent
fruit, and the orchards in the reservations are becoming less menacing to the orchards
of the neighbouring fruit-growers.

A vigorous educational campaign is carried on in reference to the relation of
insects to man. By lectures illustrated by lantern slides and cinematograph, by
circulars freely' distributed, and by articles in the press, the public is being impressed
with the necessity of eradicating the house fly as a means to sanitary reform and the
reduction of the death rate, due to intestinal disease, especially among infants, such
as typhoid fever, in the carriage of whic4i flies play so large a part in Canada.

So far, mention has been made chiefly of the strictly practical aspects of the
work of the Division of Entomolog}'. Considerable time is occupied, however, in
educational work. Agricultural and fruit-growers' associations, and meetings in the
different provinces, are addresse<l on injurious insects and means of cont-ol. An
increasingly large and representative collection of Canadian insects, which it is
intended shall form the basis of a national collection, is maintained, and is largely
used in determining collections of insects scut in by individuals, schools and colleges
for identification. Although such work involves much time and labour, its educa-
tional value is undoubtedly great apart from benefits which accrue to the Division.

This account of the work of the Division of Entomology !•• necessarily brief, but
it may indicate the great variety of problems with which wc have to deal, and the
many interests which are affected by injurious insects to which interests our work is
accordingly related. As the development and growth of Canada is wholly dependent
upon agriculture, the basic principle of the country's prosperity, the importance of
the work thus briefly described, and its necessary increase, will be readily understood.

;i i

other Work in the Control of Insect Fetts.

In addition to the work carried on hy the Federal (iovcrninciit, much valuable
work is effected by several of the Provincial Departments of Agriculture. Reference
has already been made to ttie work carricil on by the Provinces of British (^olumbia
and Ontario under their respective statutes.

The Province of Ontario h«s always been very active in regard to taking
steps for the control of insect pests. This is due, to no small extent, to the fact
that there exists in the Ontario Agricultiirol College at Ouelph, which is main-
tained by the Provincial Oovernnicnt. iin excellent entomological department under
Dr. C. .1. S. Bethune, in which men are trained in this work, and are available for
employment either by the Provincial or bv the Dominion Departments of Agriculture.
The Entomological Department of the (^olloge also serves as a bureau of informa-
tion in the control of insect i)ests for tlie province, and the members of the staff
carry on an active ed\icational campaign. The Province of Xova Scotia carries on
similar work, though to a less degree, in that province.

The Macdonald Agricultural College in Quebec, t' aiigh a bronch of McOill
University, and supporte<l by the endowment of it« fonnd-r. carries on cntoniiiogical

1

IS

work in the Province of Quebec; it is not supported, however, by the Prorincial
Government. The Provincial Government in Quebec, however, gives an annual grant
to the Quebec Society for the Protection of Plants from Insect Pests and Fungous
Diseases, which enables it to carry on valuab!. oilucational work under Prof. W.
Lochhead ,of Macdonald College, P.Q.

From this account of the problem of the control of insect posts in Canada, and
the methods by which it is being attacked, son:e idea will be gained of its magnitude
and the many interests with which it is concenied. The dependence of agriculture
and forestry, to name Canada's gmitest uatinnal ass»>ts. on scientific investigation,
is becoming increasingly an ncknow letlgol fact, and the people of Canada are recog-
nizing the fact, pointeti out by the Right Hon. Earl (Jroy in opening the first meeting
of the Conservation Commissi'>ii of Canada, ' that the future prosperity of Canada
depends upon scientific re^-arch and upon the efficient application of the results of
that research to the industriul and physical live* of the people.'

••